The European Commission (EC), together with the Member States, co-designs the research and innovation policies and programmes of the European Union (EU) and proposes regulatory development for their proper implementation. These research policies and programmes need to be approved by the Competitiveness Council (COMPET), which is the EU's largest decision-making body in this area.
The co-design exercise is carried out through the different advisory and advisory committees and bodies of the Commission and the European Council, among which the Strategic Configuration Programme Committee is particularly relevant, as a body for the participation of the Member States in the design and monitoring of the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation.
Furthermore, the European Research Area Committee (ERAC) is the advisory body that advises the Council, the EC and the Member States on the development of research and innovation policies within the European Research Area (ERA). It is co-chaired by the EC Directorate-General for Research, Innovation and Technological Development and a representation of the Member States. In the last period 2014-2020, the CEEI has focused on promoting international collaboration, open science and innovation, joint programming, the gender perspective in research and human resources and their mobility. This committee is currently in the process of adapting to the new ERA plan launched by the EC.
The European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures (ESFRI) is one of the EU’s strategic instruments for developing Community scientific integration and strengthening its international visibility, and contributes significantly to the development of research policies with concrete recommendations for strengthening European research infrastructures and competitive and open access to their resources and services.
